Outside Iona
October 9, 2022
Throughout our hectic student lives, we should always remain aware of what is happening around us. In this column, I find some of the most significant things around us and provide you with a small blurb and nitty-gritty details. Here are some of the major events that have been taking place:
General COVID-19 Updates.
According to Johns Hopkins, COVID-19 cases have passed over 604.3 million global cases, while the number of confirmed deaths is now 6.49 million. Additionally, more than 12.58 billion vaccination doses have been administered. Life expectancy in the US dropped last year to its lowest level since 1996.
The latest variant, a subvariant of Omicron, BA.2.75.2 is showing troubling signs. Unfortunately, it has already demonstrated to gain the ability to evade the immunity provided by the vaccines and cannot be neutralized by most of the antiviral drug treatments. Accounting for less than 1% of cases, B.A.275.2 has been reported in 47 countries and 39 U.S. States.
A recent survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that around two-thirds of adults in the US do not plan to get updated booster shots. Notably, around 18% of respondents said they would wait and see whether they would get the new booster shot, 10% said only if it was required and around 12% said definitely not.
Information from World Health Forum, Time and Reuters.
Hurricane Ian continues rampage.
Dozens are left homeless in Florida as rescue workers continue their search for survivors from Hurricane Ian. There are at least 35 deaths including 28 in the state. More than 1,000 people were rescued by the national guard, and over a million people are experiencing power outages. Ian was downgraded to a tropical storm when it hit North Carolina however, Ian still claimed four more lives. The state has reported downed trees and power lines with 280,000 people without power. The state continues to be in a state of emergency. Finally, heavy rains were brought up to the tri-state area with minimal damage.
Information from AP News, WXII and New York Post.
Biden’s conference of hunger and nutrition in America.
On Sept 28., President Biden held the second conference of hunger and nutrition in America. President Nixion was the first in 1969, to put a defiant end to hunger and malnutrition in the country. The committee provided recommendations that were influential in public policy for years to come, such as the expansion of food stamps and the school lunch program.
The president called on Congress to permanently extend the child tax, raise the minimum wage and expand nutrition assistance programs. His main goal is to end hunger in the US by 2030. Biden mainly focused on how the pandemic affected food insecurity and diet-related diseases. He noted that with almost all pandemic aid coming to an end, this year food insecurity will dramatically increase. It is yet to see if any of the recommendations made by the committee will be followed with most Republicans disproving the provisions.
Information from NPR, Tufts University and New York Times.
Sources:
General Covid-19 Updates.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/09/covid-19-coronavirus-pandemic-omicron-booster-5-september/
https://time.com/6216760/ba-2-75-2-centaurus-omicron-variant-vaccine/
Hurricane Ian continual rampage.
https://www.wxii12.com/article/north-carolina-braces-for-ian-real-time-updates/41446558
https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-ian-impact-path-d4db93bcac5af1134e31a3b7f2f694f0
https://nypost.com/2022/10/01/hurricane-ian-downgraded-as-it-moves-out-to-sea-hits-nyc-region/
Biden’s conference of hunger and nutrition in America.
https://www.npr.org/2022/09/28/1125575122/biden-hunger-america-conference
https://sites.tufts.edu/foodnutritionandhealth2019/1969-white-house-conference/
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/28/us/politics/biden-hunger-summit.html
